Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-12-02

so-so-cNrlN tlnT. Sald Lao, unable
to frame his gratitude, that can say
what / want TO-"
The Captain. who saw his mistake.
~, instantly apPcascl. He pattel
iad on the shoulder in the most friend
u laanucr imaginable. and after clear
ing his throat told him in = low tone
that solomon hi the nail square on the
head vhea he said that there's 4 Proyi-
dence that shapes our ends. refuse them
as much IS we've mind to. and then.
remembering that the small sachel was
still III lads possession, he got together
his writing materials, and, with the
help of the business Mans Assistant"
and Every Man His Own Lawyer"
drew up the following notice for publ
cation:
ITO All Whom il May Concern:
BE il known that on the evening OF March
., 49,, a certain party left 4 seat in the
Broad Street Station, city of Philadelphia, a
handbag supposed to contain valuaolCs. now.
therefore, if said party shall at the time of
reading this notification or as soon thereafter
ward as may be possible, communicate by let
ter with the subscriber, describing said bag, to-
gether with such other Information as shall
satisfy the subscriber aforesaid that said re-
spondent is the true and lawful owner thereof,
the handbag before mentioned Will be duly re-
turned on the payment of the sum Of five dol
lars, to cover expenses of advertising, etc.
(Signed) CAPTAIN JETHRO FLAGG,
Residence, Bixport, State of Maine"
Having finished this rather remarka-
BILE production, Captain Flagg read it
aloud for the edifcation of Tad and
Joe Whitney, who had just returned
from the kitchen.
"Tain't the way I'd put it, Uncle
Jeth," remarked the irrepressible Joe,
with his mouth full of doughnut and
a suspicious bunchiness about his
pockets, as Captain Flagg laid down
the paper with look of conscious
pride. I'D just say: Found in Broad
Street s.atiea, Philadelphia. on such
and-such a night, a handbag. Prove
Property and pay charges. Address
Captain Jethro Flagg. Bixport.
Maine"
Captain F1agg regarded his auda-
cious nephew with look in which
mild Indignation was blended with
pity. "Mebbe you would, Joseph" he
said, with some severity, ''mebbe you
would; but, considerin' that I'm jest a
few years older'n you, I've took the
liberty of doin' this my own way"
"All right, Uncle Jeth." returned
the unabashed youth, IF you don't
mind, l don't, I'm sure. Say, Tad"
he remarked, briskly, turning to the
secretly amused youth, ''how'd you
like me to go over to Miss Smiths in
the morning and speak good word
for you, eh?''
"Td like you to 60 with me ever SO
much" warmly replied Tad: He did
not rely much upon Joe's verbal rec
ommendation, but he had sort OF
feeling that the moral support of his
presence would be great deal.
"Tll call for you right after break
fast" briefly returned Joe. with twin
kle in the eye, that, had Polly been
present. she would have understood at
once to mean mischief. But she was
helping Mrs. Flagg with supper prep
arations, and the Captain was busy
sending off the copies of his notice to
a couple of city papers, so Tad had nc
warning as to Joe Whitney's love Of
practical jokes. And all the way home
Joe choked down certain little twinges
of conscience, by representing to him.
self that it was "only little fun, any.
way" an excuse which I fancy has
been common to mischievous youth
from the tabled stoning of the frogs
down to the present day.
Miss Smith was shooing" some
hens out Of her yard rs Joe came 10y
the house, and he at once volunteered
his services with marked success. Send
ing the last hen shrieking across thu
street with stick following closely al
her tail-feathers, Joe closed the gate
carefully.
"Oh, say, Miss Smith," he re.
marked, as he was turning away, 81
told Tad-the boy that Uncle Jetll
brought home this trip-that I'd come
over with him in the morning-he' s
sort of bashful with strangers
'Nobody'd accuse you of any thing
of the kind, Joe Whitney," was Mis-
Smiths uncompromising answer. She
was tall, thin, angular and forty, with
a good heart, but rather uncertain tenn
per. And Joe was not a prime favor
tie with Miss Smith, by reason Of
his rather peculiar tendencies to mis-
chief.
''Tad's real good boy, I guess"
esid Joe, ignoring the personality, "bu'
if he's as hard of hearin' as Uncle Jetll
says-for heard him say Tad was deei
as haddock-you'l haveeto holler like
old boots to make him hear" And,
without waiting to be questioned far
| thcr, Joe scudded homeward.
True to his promise, Joe was on
hand bright and early on the following
morning. Captain Flagg had gone
down to superintend the discharge of
the "Mary J.'s' cargo, and Mrs.
Flagg was in the kitchen. Only Polly
and Bounce followed the two boys to
the gate.
Remember, now! no tricks-Joe. >
called out Polly, warningly; good
luck to you Tad and she waved hei
hand encouragingly. as the latter
turned with a very full heart, to look
back at the old home whose occupants
had given him so friendly reception
"Oh, isn't this nice" said Tad, eu-
Enthusiastically, as he drew in a gre
breath of the sweet, pure air, and
looked at the quiet beauty of the land
scape about him. Behind the ,l.las
rose range of spruce and pine COZ
cred hills. All round We're fertile
farms, and, in the eyes of the cisy-bred
boy, Bixport and its srroundinC
seemed a sort of miniature Paradise.
Not SO bad" patronizinely assent
ed his companion. And rs they crosse
a small stone bridge which spauned
deep narrow stream. Joe stopped a.
peeped scrutinizincly oysr the rail. & Il
the dark current below.
Il guess the wate's warm olouof
to try the trout Il erroes Satar-
day, and if Miss SIN ln lei You of En-
the afternoon if she L.-cs what